World of Wonders: The Most Mesmerizing Natural Phenomena on Earth

This richly photographed q&a-style book, a French import, shines a light on dozens of superlative species, plants, and acts of nature. Each spread places a reader-directed question ("What is the most dangerous animal?" "What grows the fastest?" "What is the most isolated land on earth") opposite a crisp photograph of the flora, fauna, or phenomenon in question (in these cases, a mosquito, bamboo, and the Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha). The answer is listed upside down underneath each question, along with a detailed paragraph offering more information ("Every year, the mosquito... kills between one and two million people in Asia and Africa"). It's a wide-ranging and informative guide to some of the most unusual, deadly, and powerful things on the planet. Ages 8–12. (Dec.)